Soap-dispensing device.



E. F. TAWNEYJ SOAP DISPENSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1944.

1,210,231.. Patented Dec. 26,1916.

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"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT F. TAWNEY, 0F WINONA, MINNESOTA.

SOAP-DISPENSING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT F. TAWNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Winona, in the county of Winona and State of Minnesotarhaveinvented new and useful Improvements in Soap-Dispensing Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to soap dispensers, and it has particularreference to a device for dispensing so-called soft soap asdistinguished from liquid soap, the latter being in the nature of aneasy runnin fluid, while soft soap is of viscous or ge atinoussubstance.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a device ofsimpleand improved con struction whereby a predetermined charge may bedelivered at each operation.

With this and other ends in view which will readily appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improvedconstruction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which willbe hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibitedbut that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theclaims may be resorted to when desired.

In the dra\ving,I igure 1. is a vertical sectional view partly inelevation of a dis pensing device constructed in accordance with theinvention, and showing the operating parts in normal or initialposition. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view showing the operating partsin discharging position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view partly-in elevationof the iston or plunger which constitutes a part 0 the invention.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

A cylinder 15 is provided intermediate its ends with an obstructing heador closure 16, said cylinder having also at its inner end a supportingflange 17, whereby it may be attached to the wall of a lavatory or insome other convenient position. The front end of the cylinder isprovided with a cap 18 which is threaded thereon and which is axiallyapertured for the passage of a stem 19 carrying a piston P, said stembeing also pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed August 20,1914. Serial No. 857,742.

thumb piece 20. The piston P is provided intermediate its ends with anannular recess 21, the reduced portion formed by said recess beingprovided with a transverse aperture 22. The inner end of the piston hasa recess or socket 23 which communicates with the transverse aperture 22through a bore 24. A spring 25 situated in the socket 23 abuts on theclosure 16 and serves to project the piston in an outward direction. Theouter'portion of the piston is bisected transversely to form two partsor members 26, 27 which are connected together by a threadedstem 28 andbetween which there is interposed one or more packing washers 29. Thestem 28 is engaged with the outer end of the bore 24 which is threadedfor the reception of said stem, and the outer end of which is therebyobstructed.

The cylinder 15 supports a hopper or container 30 which has been shownas being provided with a nipple 31 that is threaded into the upperportion of the wall of the cylinder. The cylinder is also provided witha downwardly extending discharge nipple 32, the latter being out ofalinement with the nipple 31, said discharge nipple being postionedrelatively near the outer end of the cylinder.

It will be observed that the washer 29 will snugly engage the inner wallof the cylinder, constituting a packing member whereby, when the pistonmoves in an outward direction, suction is set up in the rearward end ofthe cylinder, creating a partial vacuum whereby a portion of the viscousor pasty soap substance placed in the container 30 will be positivelysucked or drawn through the nipple 31 which constitutes the inlet portinto the cylinder. It will also be observed that the partsare soproportioned that when the piston is forced inward against the tensionof the spring 23 to the limit of its movement, it will practically abuton the member 16 which constitutes the inner end or head of thecylinder, while when the piston moves outward under the tension of thespring, its inner end portion will partly overlap the inlet port formedby the nipple 31, the extent of the overlap being governed by the numberor the thick ness of the washers 29. It follows that when the piston isforced outward, the amount of soap entering the cylinder to the rearwardpared for use in connection with this device is of such pastyconsistency that while amenable to the action of the suction device,

it will not of itself flow or gravitate through the port 31. It willalso be seen that the extent of the charge is not governed by the lengthof the stroke of the piston, said stroke being limited by the pistonmember 27 in one direction and by the button 20 in the other direction.When the piston is projected outwardly, the bore 24, the space formed bythe annular recess 21, the trans- .verse aperture 22 and the socket 23will be filled with soap, while the space of the cylinder to therearward of the piston will contain only the relatively small quantityof soap required to form a single charge which has been sucked orwithdrawn from the container through the port 31 by the forward movementof the piston.

\Vhen the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, and the cylinder isprojected to its full extent in an outward direction by the action ofthe spring 25, the outlet nipple 32 will be obstructed, butcommunication will be establishe d between the cylinder 15 and thecontainer 30 through the port formed by the nipple 31. By each operationof the piston or plunger (each operation being taken to mean the pushinginward of the piston against the tension of the spring and itssubsequent projection in an outward direction by the action of thespring) will cause a portion of the contents of the hopper 30 to bedrawn partly by gravity and partly by the suction created by the plungerinto the cylinder. After the operation has been repeated a few times therecess or socket 23, as well as the bore 2-1, the transverse aperture 22and the annular space 21 will become filled with the soft soap and acharge of soap will be contained in the cylinder to the rearward of theplunger, so that by the next inward movement of the plunger against thetension of the spring,

the inlet port being obstructed by the inner portion of the piston, aportion of the soap contained in the socket23, bore 24, perforation 22and recess 21 will be projected through the nipple 32 with whichtheannular recess 21 will be in registry when'the piston or plunger ismoved in an inward direction. By the subsequent outward movement of theplunger under the tension of the spring the next charge is drawn intothe cylinder to the rearward of the plunger.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have produced asoap dispensing device adapted peculiarly for dispensing soft or viscoussoap, a predetermined charge at each operation, and in which the workingparts are simple and not liable to get out of working order. The soap initself constitutes a lubricant whereby the parts are maintained in goodworking condition.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the class described, a cylinder having non-registeringinlet and outlet ports, a hollow piston having an annular reducedportion and a transverse passage establishing continuous communicationbetween the reduced portionof the piston and the cylinder, and a springseated within the piston to normally project the latter, said pistonhaving means tive length for the purpose of varying the area of theinlet port, as set forth.

2. In a device of the class described, a cylinder having min-registeringinlet and \outlet ports, a hollow piston having an annular reducedportion and a transverse passage establishing continuous communicationbetween the reduced portion of the piston and the cylinder, and a springseated within the piston to normally project the latter; the inlet portbeing partly overlapped by the piston when the latter is in-normallyprojected position, said piston being pro- .vided with means whereby"the amount of the overlap may be varied.

'3. In a' device of the class described, a cylinder havingnon-registering inlet and outlet ports, a hollow piston having anannular reduced portion and a transverse passage establishing continuouscommunication between the reduced portion of the piston and thecylinder, and a spring'seated within the piston to normally project thelatter; the inlet port being partly overlapped by the piston when thelatter is in normally projected position, said piston being providedwith detachable washers, whereby the amount of the overlap may be variedby varying. the thickness of the washer, said washer operating to createa suction upon the return stroke of the piston.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EVERETT TAWNEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. SULLIVAN, FRANK L. Cnosnr.

